Annunciation Church, Mdina

Last updated
Annunciation Church
The Church of the Annunciation of Our Lord
Carmelite Church
Knisja tal-Lunzjata
Carmelite church Mdina Malta 2014 2.jpg
Malta location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Annunciation Church
35°53′12.2″N14°24′10.8″E / 35.886722°N 14.403000°E / 35.886722; 14.403000 Coordinates: 35°53′12.2″N14°24′10.8″E / 35.886722°N 14.403000°E / 35.886722; 14.403000
Location Mdina
Country Malta
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
StatusActive
Dedication Annunciation
Architecture
Functional statusPriory Church
Architect(s) Mederico Blondel des Croisettes
Style Baroque
Completed1675
Administration
Archdiocese Malta
Clergy
Archbishop Charles Scicluna
Abbot Charlo Camilleri

The Church of the Annunciation also known as The Carmelite Church is a rich Baroque priory church of the Priory of Our Lady of Mount Carmel located in Mdina, Malta.

Contents

Interior of the church Malta - Mdina - Triq Villegaignon - Carmelite Church in 01 ies.jpg
Interior of the church

History

Records mention that on the site of the present church, stood another church dedicated to the Nativity of Mary. Other sources mention that the chapel was dedicated to the Virgin of the Fortress (della Rocca). [1] The chapel and the surrounding area was given to the Carmelites in the 1650s. The church was built between 1660 and 1675 on the designs of Mederico Blondel des Croisettes.

After the earthquake of 1693 which destroyed many important buildings, notably the medieval cathedral of St Paul, the cathedral chapter moved to the Carmelite church until 1702 when the new cathedral was rebuilt. Moreover, the church also served as the parish church during this time. [2]

The dome Malta - Mdina - Triq Villegaignon - Carmelite Church in 03 ies.jpg
The dome

During the French occupation the church was ransacked by the French where valuables were stolen to fund Napoleon's wars. However, it is said that on one particular occasion, as the French were on their way to steal the church's damask, some rebels locked the church doors and a boy went up to the spire to sound the alarm. Consequently, this event gave birth to the resistance against the French. [3]

Works of art

The interior is enriched with baroque sculpture and paintings by notable artists such as Mattia Preti, Stefano Erardi, Michele Bellanti and Giuseppe Calì. The ornately carved and gilded wooden frame around the titular painting is the work of Pietro Paolo Troisi, and the processional statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel the work of Maltese sculptor Andrea Imbroll.

See also

Related Research Articles

Żurrieq Local council in Southern Region, Malta

Żurrieq is a town in the Southern Region of Malta. It is one of the oldest towns in the country, and it has a population of 11,823 inhabitants as of March 2014. The first documentation about it being a parish dates back to 1436 dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. The island of Filfla is administratively a part of the town. The town stretches from in Nigret to Ħal Far respectively in old times the town was a border with Żejtun. There are a number of villages forming part of Żurrieq.

Saint Johns Co-Cathedral Church in Valletta, Malta

St John's Co-Cathedral is a Roman Catholic co-cathedral in Valletta, Malta, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. It was built by the Order of St. John between 1572 and 1577, having been commissioned by Grand Master Jean de la Cassière as the Conventual Church of Saint John.

Naxxar Local council in Northern Region, Malta

Naxxar is a town in the Northern Region of Malta, with a population of about 13,443 people as of March 2014. The Naxxar Church is dedicated to Our Lady of Victories. The annual village feast is celebrated on 8 September. Naxxar was formerly known for hosting the Maltese International Trade Fair at Maltese International Trade Fair Grounds.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel title for the Virgin Mary

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early to mid-13th century. They built in the midst of their hermitages a chapel which they dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, whom they conceived of in chivalric terms as the "Lady of the place." Our Lady of Mount Carmel was adopted in the 19th century as the patron saint of Chile, in South America.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower United States historic place

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower also called Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Thérèse Church is a historic Roman Catholic church, located in San Antonio, Texas, USA. The church is distinguished as one of 84 in the United States bearing the papal designation of "minor basilica." Despite its religious importance it is not the cathedral of the local diocese; that distinction belongs to San Fernando Cathedral.

Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro

The Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is an old Carmelite church which served as cathedral () of Rio de Janeiro from around 1808 until 1976. During the 19th century, it was also used successively as Royal and Imperial Chapel by the Portuguese Royal Family and the Brazilian Imperial Family, respectively. It is located in the Praça XV square, in downtown Rio. It is one of the most important historical buildings in the city.

Architecture of Malta

Maltese architecture has its origins in prehistory, and some of the oldest free-standing structures on Earth – a series of megalithic temples – can be found on Malta. The islands were colonized by the Phoenicians and later the Romans, who established the cities of Melite and Gaulos. Although these were substantial settlements and are known to have had numerous temples, churches and palaces, few remains have survived apart from some architectural fragments.

St Pauls Cathedral, Mdina Church in Mdina, Malta

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Paul, commonly known as St Paul's Cathedral or the Mdina Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Mdina, Malta, dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle. The cathedral was founded in the 12th century, and according to tradition it stands on the site of where Roman governor Publius met St. Paul following his shipwreck on Malta. The original cathedral was severely damaged in the 1693 Sicily earthquake, so it was dismantled and rebuilt in the Baroque style to a design of the Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafà between 1696 and 1705. The cathedral is regarded as Gafà's masterpiece.

Lorenzo Gafà Maltese architect and sculptor

Lorenzo Gafà (1639–1703) was a Maltese Baroque architect and sculptor. He designed many churches in the Maltese Islands, including St. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina and the Cathedral of the Assumption in Victoria, Gozo. He was the younger brother of the sculptor Melchiorre Cafà.

Stella Maris Monastery monastery

The Stella Maris Monastery (romana) or the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for monks is a 19th-century Discalced Carmelite monastery located on the slopes of Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. Another Carmelite monastery of the same name is reserved for nuns and is located higher up on Mount Carmel.

Église Saint-Jean-de-Malte Church in Aix-en-Provence, France

The Church of St. John in Aix-en-Provence, situated at the corner of rue d'Italie and rue Cardinale, is a Gothic Roman Catholic church, the first in Provence. It was built in the 13th century, mostly in the 1270s.

Chiesa del Carmine, Messina church building in Messina, Italy

The "Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel", better known as Carmine Church, is a Roman Catholic church, located near the Cathedral in Messina, in Sicily. It replaces the former church, which was razed by the 1908 Messina earthquake. Located before the Courthouse, the Carmine Church was rebuilt in the eighteenth century Baroque or Rococo style. Designed by the architect Cesare Bazzani, the church was reconsecrated 15 July 1931.

Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Valletta Church in Valletta, Malta

The Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a Roman Catholic church in the capital Valletta on the island of Malta. It is one of the most famous churches and main tourist attractions of Valletta, and it forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site which includes the entire city.

Church of the Nativity of Mary, Naxxar Church in Naxxar, Malta

The Church of the Nativity of Mary is a Roman Catholic baroque parish church located in Naxxar, Malta.

Carmelite Church, Balluta Church in St Julians, Malta

The Parish Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or simply known as the Carmelite Church or Balluta Parish Church, is a neo-gothic Roman Catholic parish church located in Balluta Bay in the town of St Julian's, Malta.

St. Catherines Old Church, Żejtun Church in Żejtun, Malta

St. Catherine's Old Church, also known as St. Gregory's Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Żejtun. The church and its complex sit towards the outskirts of the town, commanding views over Marsascala Bay, St. Thomas' Bay and Marsaxlokk harbour. The church is colloquially known as Saint Gregory's due to a traditional procession held on the first Wednesday following Easter Sunday. Its dedication to Catherine of Alexandria dates back to an original chapel on this site, which was one of the eight mother churches on Malta. The church stands next to the three cemeteries of Żejtun, dedicated to St. Rocco, St. Gregory and St. Catherine. The church's functions as the parish church of Żejtun were taken over by a new parish church, also dedicated to St. Catherine, and designed by Lorenzo Gafà.

Parish Church of Our Lady of Graces, Żabbar Church in Żabbar, Malta

The Parish Church and Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces is a Roman Catholic parish church in Żabbar, Malta, dedicated to Our Lady of Graces. The church was originally built between 1641 and 1696 to designs of the Renaissance architect Tommaso Dingli. Its façade, an outstanding example of Maltese Baroque architecture, was built in 1738 to designs of Giovanni Bonavia. The dome was rebuilt in the early 19th century after it had been damaged during the French blockade of 1798–1800, and it was rebuilt again in the first half of the 20th century to designs of Giuseppe Pace.

Church and Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Cachoeira) church and convent

The Church and Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is an 18th-century Roman Catholic church in Cachoeira, Bahia, Brazil. It was constructed between 1688 and likely completed in 1773. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary and is constructed in the Baroque style with a Rococo frontispiece. The church opens to Travessa Taváres, a broad avenue, with a view to the Paraguaçu River. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Stefano Erardi (1630–1716) was a Maltese painter whose works may be found in many churches around the Maltese Islands. His style has been described as either late Mannerist or Baroque.

Pietro Paolo Troisi was a Maltese Baroque silversmith, sculptor, medallist, designer, engraver and Master of the Mint. His works include bronze sculptures of his patron António Manoel de Vilhena, designs of various coins and medals, a wide range of mainly religious works in silver, engraved portraits, designs for temporary triumphal arches and designs for works in a number of churches, most notably the altar of repose at the Mdina cathedral.

References

  1. "Mdina", Archdiocese of Malta. Retrieved on 25 March 2017.
  2. "Mdina", Malta-Canada. Retrieved on 25 March 2017.
  3. "The Church", Carmelite Priory, Malta. Retrieved on 25 March 2017.